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Questions over GL Tech's plans for dispersal of sewing machines

By Sarah Favot, sfavot@lowellsun.com

Updated:
12/01/2012 06:36:53 AM EST

TYNGSBORO -- While there was no longer job-market demand to retain the Fashion Technology program at Greater Lowell Technical High School, there is a demand for sewing machines left behind from its closure.

About 75 sewing machines are sitting unused at the school as surplus equipment. Six staff members, meanwhile, have made it clear that they would like to purchase 10 of the machines from the school.

Sewing machines with staff members' names on them were sitting outside the shop area earlier this school year, according to a source.

The School Committee voted in October to donate the machines to The Stitching Studio, a Lowell site of the International Institute of New England, a nonprofit organization that teaches professional sewing skills to legal refugees and immigrants.

The School Committee, however, stopped short of selling 10 machines to the staff members who requested them.

Business Manager George Garabedian cautioned the committee not to approve the sale unless it is done in a way that follows state procurement laws.

On Tuesday, Superintendent-Director Mary Jo Santoro said the school is opening up the machines that were hand-picked by the staff members to a public bid, where members of the public, including the staff, will be able to submit sealed bids. The machines will go to the highest bidders, she said.

The value of the 64 remaining machines is $5,945, according to a memo from Technology Cluster Chair Robert Hobbs.

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According to state procurement laws, surplus equipment valued at more than $5,000 must be disposed of through eliciting sealed bids or holding a public auction.

When asked if the donation of the machines -- because the machines are valued at more than $5,000 -- violated state procurement laws, Santoro said Friday afternoon, after discussion with Hobbs and Director of Technical Studies John Sheehan, the school district is planning to sell more than just the 10 machines staff have requested.

Because putting some of the machines up for sale might create more of a public interest, she said, the school plans to put up more than just 10 machines for sale.

None of the procurement documents have been prepared yet, she said.

Whatever is left over from the sale, will be donated, she said.

If the value of the donations is more than $5,000, Santoro said state procurement laws will be followed.

She said it is not uncommon for the school to donate surplus equipment to nonprofits.

Santoro said the nonprofit The Stitching Studio inquired about the sewing machines when it was announced Fashion Technology would be closing.

"When we looked into the organization, it looked like a worthwhile community organization to make the donation," said Santoro.

The discussion of the sewing machines was spurred by a motion from School Committee member Erik Gitschier, of Lowell, in September. Gitschier asked the superintendent to provide the committee with a report on what happens to equipment once a shop closes because he did not find a school policy on the matter.

Santoro said she was not aware of a policy regarding excess equipment.

The committee voted to send the matter to the policy subcommittee.

At the next meeting, Santoro returned with Hobbs' memo regarding the interest from the staff and the nonprofit group.

According to Mass General Laws Chapter 30B, which covers procurement, supplies valued at less than $5,000 may be disposed of according to the jurisdiction's written procedures.

"Your local jurisdiction must adopt written procedures before disposing of surplus supplies," according to the state inspector general's Chapter 30B manual.

Greater Lowell does not yet have written procedures.

Santoro said the Fashion Technology shop closed because there wasn't much of a job market directly out of high school for students who graduated from the program.

"The local economy didn't really call for that market," she said.

Also, she said, enrollment was low.

According to meeting minutes posted on the school's website, in February 2010, School Committee member Fred Bahou requested a report on enrollment in the program.

Santoro informed the committee in December of that year that she was recommending to phase out the Fashion Technology program and begin the approval process for Engineering Technology.

According to Massachusetts Vocational Technical Education Regulations, a school district that plans to close a Chapter 74-approved program must submit a closure plan to the Department of Elementary and Secondary School Education. The plan must outline a timetable for program closure, information outreach to affected students and their parents or guardians, and options for students to complete the vocational technical education program.

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